Reaper crawled out of her bed nearly an hour later and found her black 'Reaper' clothes to redress into. Neo was still trying to catch her breath. She wasn't prepared for this this time, and didn't even realize what was happening until Reaper literally picked her up and threw her onto the bed. Even then, Neo was surprised it was happening in the first place. Reaper seemed pissed at Neo for almost killing her old girlfriend, going so far as to order Neo to leave, an order Neo strangely felt compelled to follow. Maybe because Reaper gave it?

Neo looked over the scythe bearer with this question in mind. In the past, she had attached herself to Torchwick (professionally, of course), going so far as to jailbreak him months after the plan that brought them together failed. But if it came down to a choice between Roman and Reaper, who would she choose? Roman would probably last longer, although Reaper was learning very quickly. And then there were other obvious advantages to staying with Reaper…

This still didn't explain why Neo had already followed Reaper's command. Neo found the answer in the very act she was ordered off of. She wasn't an idiot; she knew her assaults against the secretary and the rabbit girl were ones of jealousy, the other girls having caught Reaper's attention. But was Neo worried about them stealing Reaper's attention or stealing Reaper herself? It's true that Reaper doesn't quote unquote 'belong' to me, but she's still mine. I helped make her, I did a lot to bring 'Reaper' out of 'Ruby'. And if the day comes and she were to ask me, I would gladly 'belong' to her.

As Neo examined the girl in front of her she realized she really wouldn't mind becoming a bit more exclusive. Sure Reaper was insane, but Neo was fully aware she was ten different kinds of nuts herself, and wasn't romance just looking for someone whose crazy matches yours? Deciding it might be best to talk to Reaper about this revelation, Neo sent a message to her black scroll.

Reaper felt her scroll buzz, checked it to see who it came from, and promptly deleted the message without reading it. Guess she doesn't want to talk… Neo frowned, knowing the other girl didn't think highly of their… whatever they really were. With Reaper's back turned to her, the only other way for her to get the scythe master's attention without a voice was to physically interact with her, which the multi-colored girl would gladly do if she could move her legs. However, they couldn't follow any command other than 'shake uncontrollably' at the moment.

Reaper grabbed the drive on her way out. She knew she was leaving Neo behind in her own house, but the strange girl treated this place like a second home anyway. She had to deliver the package for Don Palette to Torchwick. Then she was going to have to figure out where Neo got a second key to her front door.

You realize the girl is becoming obsessed with us, right?

If you realized it, then why wouldn't I?

This self-aware insanity makes for some really boring conversation.

Okay, fine, I'll play your game. Reaper spoke aloud and with extreme dry sarcasm. "Oh my, what ever do you mean? What makes you think she's obsessed?"

Of all the heads to be stuck in, why did it have to be yours?

Well, are you going to answer me, oh wise one?

Oh can it, killjoy…

Why are you bothered by it anyway? Aren't you the half of me that actually likes her?

I'm the half that admits we like what she can do to us.

Now who's in denial?

Whatever…

Ha.

Reaper came to the desk of Roman's office and saw his new secretary, a vibrant blonde with a leather jacket. She easily reminded the scythe master of Yang.

I knew a blonde would be worse than the not-Velvet girl.

At least this one won't risk getting fucked up by Ice Scream.

Ugh, if we're going to give her a pet name, can it at least be something not so blatant?

Have you met the girl? Does anything other than blatant fit her?

Yeah, good point.

"I need to see Torchwick." Reaper told the blonde.

"And you are?" the girl responded with an air of superiority.

"Reaper." The scythe master replied evenly.

The blonde did a supersonic double take. "Ms. Reaper! I'm so sorry! He's waiting for you, go right in!"

Ditsy blonde? Really Roman?

Reaper stepped inside the office, where Torchwick was waiting along with Don Palette. "I see you made it out alive." Roman noted.

"Better than that." Reaper held out the memory drive. "I got the files. I double checked on the way over here, these are the ones you're looking for, and they've been deleted from the mainframe." She told Don Palette.

"When I heard you were compromised, I never imagined… thank you so much." Don Palette took the drive and turned to Torchwick. "You've proved yourself reliable. You have my support."

"Thank you. I think we'll need it." Roman replied, shaking his hand.

"What does that mean?" Reaper asked. "Something happen while I was gone?"

Roman looked over to the black clad girl with unease. "Remember the debacle with Junior's Brochure? Well, you were spot on the money. Someone is after us, the storefront wasn't supposed to explode."

"I was curious about that... Now that I'm back, I can begin investigating." Reaper offered.

"I was hoping you would say that."

Reaper nodded and headed to the door, turning her head back just before she reached it. "Oh, and Roman. Ditsy blonde secretary? Really?"


The sun broke the horizon, filling Ozpin's office with a golden glow. The headmaster sat at his desk, looking out the windows. He heard the elevator doors open behind him. The only person it could be was the only man he was expecting. "Ironwood."

"Hello, Ozpin. I assume everything went to plan?" The general asked.

"One could say so." Ozpin replied.

Ironwood nodded and drew a device from his pocket. Once Winter awoke with her report, they set into motion a sting operation of sorts. Catch the girl and give her a fake drive they could track back to Torchwick. Once they knew where he was hiding, the entire Atlas military force could be brought onto his head. Ironwood turned the tracking device on and saw it lead to… nowhere.

"That's strange. My monitor says the drive is still in this office." Ironwood's eyes passed over the desk on their way to Ozpin, to be stopped by the sight of a data drive. But it couldn't be… "You did give Ruby the bugged drive, correct?"

"No, James. I did not." Ozpin answered as he turned to face the general.

"What!? What were you thinking?"

"I invited her into this school two years early for her exceptional skill. Because if there is something this world never has enough of, it's exceptionally skilled hunters and huntresses. When I took her in here, I made a promise to her family that I would look after her. She may have been a good fighter, but she was still a fifteen year old little girl." Ozpin told him.

"Ms. Rose is no longer that little girl. She's a criminal now, and a dangerous one at that. She's a killer, Ozpin. Her new name tells us as much!" Ironwood shouted.

"Ms. Rose," Ozpin raised his voice in return, "is a troubled and quite possibly mentally unstable teenaged girl. She doesn't need prison, James. She needs help."

"There's no helping people like her, Ozpin. Trust me, you made a mistake."

"Trust you, James?" The headmaster spoke in the voice that only teachers perfect, the kind that stays quiet but no student would dare speak over. "I asked you to trust me once. You responded by bringing an invasion sized army into Vale, into my school."

"Need I remind you that my 'invasion sized army' helped save Vale and Beacon!" Ironwood pointed out.

"Need I remind you that your invasion sized army came this close to being taken over and used against us?" Ozpin rebutted. "If two of my students, Ms. Rose among them, hadn't of stumbled across Torchwick's ally, completely by chance, that day would have ended much differently! Facts that I noticed didn't make it into your report to the council!"

Ironwood was at a loss for words. "It's one thing to say you have trust," the headmaster continued in a calmer voice, "it's another thing entirely to show it. The difference between us is I'm not going to lie to myself about being able to show it when I clearly can't."

"And what happens if you're wrong, and Ruby cannot be helped?" Ironwood asked when he found his voice.

"Then I'm sure you would be happy to have another reason to remove me from my school." Ozpin replied, sitting back down and turning back to the window.

"Ozpin…"

"I believe our business is done, James."

Ironwood searched for something else to say. Failing that, he turned to leave the office he was obviously no longer welcome in.


Velvet awoke to the soft lights of the infirmary. She was conscious when she was admitted, but it still disturbed her to wake up in here. She had hoped last night was a terrible nightmare… but the sling on her arm and ache above her eye told her it was all too real. She grabbed a nearby hand mirror to inspect the damage on her brow. Her aura wasn't raised when she was struck, and she was unconscious soon after. The gash healed quickly enough once she woke later, but even aura could never heal away the three-inch scar that now remained angled above and beside her right eye.

The nurse came by soon after. She was discharged on the condition she keep her arm in the sling and checked back in once a day until the doctors say she could remove it. Still out of classes, she wandered the halls to pass the time. She was drawn to the sound of an argument. An older woman, definitely not a student was shouting at…

"What the hell, Ozpin!" A taller version of Weiss was shouting at the headmaster. "You just let her go!?"

"Please, keep your voice down. Students are trying to learn." Ozpin calmly replied.

"You owe me an explanation."

"I already spoke to your general about this. Shouldn't you be resting?"

"I've slept long enough!"

Of course, Velvet realized, Winter. Weiss's sister. But who did Ozpin let go?

"I believe Ms. Rose can be saved. But I cannot help her if she is behind bars." Ozpin's confession widened both Winter's and Velvet's eyes. "Happy now, Ms. Schnee?"

"Hardly! The girl is a murderer."

"Oh? And did you see her kill anyone?" Ozpin asked.

"Not personally, no… B-but Mercury Black and Emerald Sustrai-!"

"You didn't see her kill anyone, nor did you witness Roman Torchwick's escape. You jumped out the window of an airship to save your own life before these events took place." Ozpin continued, his calm tone unbroken.

"From Ruby Rose!" Winter shouted.

"From who you claim was Ruby Rose, and who was in the presence of a known and dangerous illusionist. The truth is, the only account that really says Ruby killed anyone is from Ruby herself, to which I remind you I have already proven the high possibility of mental instability via a failed use of Aura-Link. For all we know these people are taking advantage of a damaged little girl."

Winter searched for a rebuttal and found she had none. Ozpin had all the angles covered and was dedicated to this path. All Winter could do was stomp off in a huff. Ozpin heaved a heavy sigh as he watched her go. Velvet approached from behind him..

"Do you really believe all that, Professor? That Ruby could be mistaken?" she asked him.

Ozpin turned and the faunus could see sadness in his eye. "Unfortunately, I do not. I fully believe Ruby is guilty of the things she says. While it is possible other forces are manipulating her damaged mind, it is far more likely that Ruby recognizes the damage herself, and continues this path because she feels it's the only life she deserves after things she had done when she lost control of herself."

"Oh…" Velvet felt her heart fall again. These past twelve hours had been a rollercoaster for the poor organ. "Do you… still believe she can be saved?"

"Do you?" Ozpin asked in return.

After only a moment's thought Velvet nodded. "Ruby is still in there, somewhere. I could feel it. I could feel her…" When she told me she loved me. That's when I felt her. That's when I knew for sure.

Ozpin let out another sigh, this one filled with relief, and smiled. "Thank you. I needed to hear that, more than I knew. I'll see you around, Ms. Scarlatina."

Later, sitting at a desk in CFVY dorm, Velvet mulled over her thoughts. "Not too long ago, looking out this window, I made a promise." Velvet spoke out loud to Ruby, wherever she was. "I promised I would find you. I would bring you home. I promised I wouldn't give up this time. I intend to keep that promise, love."

"What the hell, Velv." Coco spoke from the door. "Why are you doing this to yourself?"

Velvet turned her seat to face her friend. "You didn't talk to her like I did. You didn't feel what I felt. I think there's a still a chance."

Coco shook her head. "God damn it, girl. I don't get you sometimes…"

"The Ruby I love is still in there, buried within this 'Reaper' character." The faunus explained. "I have to help her if I can. I have to."

Coco let her head drop. She still didn't think this was a good idea, but she also knew she couldn't dissuade Velvet, especially when Ruby is involved. "I'm not going to help you destroy yourself this time."

"I wouldn't ask you too." Velvet appreciated Coco's honesty, even if it was rather abrasive.

"How's the arm?" the team leader asked to change the conversation.

"Should be like new in a few days." Velvet smiled. "The doctors said if it wasn't set so soon after the fracture, it may never have healed properly."

"Well, at least that girl did something right." Coco left it there and stepped out of the dorm again.

Velvet's next team mate to check on her between classes a few hours later was Yatsuhashi. The large boy stepped close to the faunus and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Hey Yatsu."

"Velvet." He bowed his head. "Coco wasn't sure if we should give this to you, but she also isn't always the best when it comes to sympathy. I figured it's only fair you get these… she left them for you after all, whether as a gift or as a goodbye… I guess that's up for debate." After his speech, Yatsuhashi held out an object wrapped in a bright red fabric. Velvet's recognized Ruby's cloak, and could guess by the shape that it was wrapped around the folded state of Crescent Rose.

"Thank you, Yatsu." She took the items. She tried to put on the cloak with one shaky hand, but in the end Yatsuhashi helped her. She thanked him again and he left for the final classes.


At the dinner table later, there was an unsettling silence. Weiss, Blake, Team JNPR, and team CFVY minus Velvet (who had yet to arrive) were unsure how to break the deafening quiet.

"What do we do now?" Jaune finally spoke up. "How to we move past this?"

"We don't, not immediately." Blake answered. "We need closure."

"I looked into Orange Clockwork some more today." Weiss began to explain. "It's an investment company. They own so much stock, they practically own half of downtown Vale. I checked that store where we found Ruby supposedly stopping a robbery; Orange Clockwork owns it too."

"It looks like a front company," Blake clarified, "to run legitimate business, scams, and money laundering operations."

"Junior told us it's connected to Torchwick." Weiss picked back up. "We investigate O.C. and it can lead us to him. And we can assume she will be close by."

The others took this information in and considered whether they should let this go, or join in the hunt for Torchwick and Ruby. Everyone was soon distracted, however, when Velvet finally arrived, a bright red cloak around her shoulders. She sat down amid the stares she had fully anticipated.

"You really feel… comfortable wearing that?" Weiss asked her.

"Why wouldn't I? Besides, someone needs to take care of it, so she can have it back someday." Velvet responded.

"You say that like she's coming back." Weiss said.

"Look, I don't care what any of you think. I don't care if you think I'm crazy. I believe Ruby still exists somewhere in that girl, and as long as she does, I'm going to try and get her back." Velvet told them all, tired of explaining herself.

Just a few days ago, everyone supported her in her endeavor. Now, she could tell she was in a minority. It seems Ruby was right… she broke their trust, and now I'm the only one here willing to keep trying to help her. But I can't let it discourage me. I love you, Ruby Rose, and I will find you.


A/N: I worked hard to get this done as soon as possible. I hoped you guys enjoyed it! make sure to follow if you want to see Act 3: Huntress and Hunted. (Act 3's name is not final, but will likely either be this or something along the lines of 'A Game of Cat and Mouse')